The sex of the patient (FEMALE) is provided by the data source. All non-male, non-female (e.g., "other") values are set to missing (.).

Prior to data year 2023, if FEMALE is inconsistent with diagnoses (EDX03), ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM/PCS procedures (EPR03), or HCPCS procedures (ECPT02), FEMALE is set to inconsistent (.C).

In HCUP databases before 1998, this data element is called SEX.